Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana &
Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana

Stable & metastable point defects, disclination lines, and solitons in the orientational order parameter field characterize frustrated nematogenic complex fluids. In such a topological soft matter, frustrations are a result of conflicting influences of confining geometries, surface anchoring, external fields, chirality and elasticity.

Basic concepts and approaches needed to deal with topological soft matter will be given. The synergy of numerical modeling and experiments will be illustrated with two examples: i) nematic colloids including knotted disclination braids and chiral solitonic deformations; ii) skyrmion lattices and individual skyrmions in confined blue phases.